Receive brain stimulation sessions to help treat overactive bladder symptoms

Recruiting

What is this trial?

This study is testing a treatment called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)—a noninvasive way to stimulate specific regions of your brain—to help reduce bladder symptoms like urgency, frequency, and incontinence in women with multiple sclerosis. Instead of focusing on treating the bladder itself, this approach targets brain regions that control bladder function. Early results in a small group of women showed significant improvement in bladder symptoms without serious side effects.

Many people with multiple sclerosis experience overactive bladder symptoms that are difficult to manage with current treatments, which often have unwanted side effects or limited effectiveness. This trial explores a new approach that works at the brain level rather than the bladder level, offering hope for a better, less invasive option.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are an adult woman age 18 or older
you have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis that is clinically stable (no major disease worsening in the past 6 months)
you have experienced bladder storage symptoms like urinary frequency, urgency, or incontinence for at least 3 months
you have at least one active bladder symptom, such as frequent urination or urgent need to urinate
you have adequate cognitive function to participate (score above 10 on a cognitive screening test)

You likely don't qualify if…

you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing
you have a history of seizure disorder or take medications that lower seizure threshold (such as bupropion or heavy alcohol use)
you have a history of bipolar disorder or take certain psychiatric medications that could worsen it
you have an implanted device like a pacemaker, baclofen pump, or active spinal nerve stimulator
you have a recent brain lesion, hemorrhagic stroke, moderate-to-severe heart disease, or untreated urinary tract infection

What participation looks like

You will be randomly assigned to receive either active brain stimulation or a sham (placebo) version that looks identical. Your treatment will consist of sessions conducted five days a week for two weeks, with each session lasting 40 minutes. During the sessions, a magnetic coil will be placed against your scalp to deliver the stimulation. The study uses special imaging to precisely target the brain regions involved in bladder control. After the two-week treatment period, you will return for follow-up visits to assess whether your bladder symptoms have improved.

Brain Stimulation to Treat Bladder Problems in Multiple Sclerosis

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(1 site)